Development and fabrication of advanced battery energy storage system Mid-term report, 27 Sep. 1966 - 26 Mar. 1967

Silver-cadmium secondary battery energy storage system using vented cells for manned orbital spacecraf

Scattering of epithermal argon by /111/ silver surfaces - A comparison of theory and experiment

Scattering distributions for argon incident on fresh epitaxial silver film

Measuring social mobility in the creative and cultural industries – the importance of working in partnership to improve data practices and address inequality

The challenge To understand how best to measure social mobility in a way that works for the cultural sector. Context of the research ACE wants to address growing concerns around the lack of social mobility in the cultural sector. To understand the make-up of the sector that it funds, it needs to collect new data about class in the workforce. To achieve this goal, better understanding is required of how inequality data is already collected, submitted and valued by cultural sector organisations. Dr Oman undertook 2 phases of research with 15 ACE-funded organisations, known as National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs). NPOs are required to return data to demonstrate who has benefitted from public investment. This includes the diversity of the workforce in funded organisations. The findings of this research are presented here to inform equality data collection across the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) in the UK. Wider policy problem As with all sectors, building an accurate picture of social inequality in the cultural sector and broader CCIs is key to understanding how to address it. Workforce data have historically been duplicated, often captured unsystematically and are resource-heavy to manage. Alongside this, the request for demographic data to understand diversity and inequality issues is frequently met with suspicion. Addressing existing metrics and data practices will improve the experience of data collection and the quality of the data collected. In turn, this will increase the sector’s capacity to be data-driven, also improving return on investment. Key finding The recommended measure to understand class and social mobility is based on a question which asks the occupation of people’s parents or carers when growing up. However, when trialled alongside 40 other questions, this was the most problematic for people to answer. This research found that the various barriers to answering this and other demographic questions can be alleviated by addressing data practices in context: who, how and where this information is collected. Crucially, improving these processes involves communicating the rationale behind the questions asked - and the value of data they produce - to those asked to share their personal data

Improving data practices to monitor inequality and introduce social mobility measures - a working paper for the cultural sector

Arts Council England (ACE) wants to understand class and social mobility in the cultural workforce. If this is to be achieved, more attention should be paid to how the sector talks about class and social mobility, particularly as new ways to measure it are introduced. Furthermore, we need to understand how personal data of all kinds are collected, valued, used and reported across the cultural sector. The work presented here is independent academic research from Dr Susan Oman’s Fellowships in ‘Good Data, Diversity and Inequality in the Creative Economy’ at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield. This working paper summarises and updates reports to ACE in July and December 2018, and presents context, workings, findings and recommendations to help the cultural sector understand how it might begin monitoring class inequality and revisit its data collection practices. Part 1 summarises the research methodology, findings and recommendations. Three overarching recommendations offer indications on how social mobility metrics might work in ACE-funded organisations and the broader sector. These are: 1. Any questions on social mobility should follow Cabinet Office guidelines as closely as possible. 2. ACE and the cultural sector should work together to establish social mobility measures and understand how the components of someone’s social origins intersect with other aspects of inequality. 3. ACE and the cultural sector should co-produce formal guidance on good practice when collecting and monitoring data on protected characteristics. This should include guidance for organisations to communicate the rationale behind the questions to staff and offer assistance to ease responding. Part 2 of the working paper begins by setting out the context for this research, informed by an overview of sector and wider work on social mobility and a short literature review. This reflects ongoing work in different areas of the arts – and beyond – to reveal how ACE and the cultural sector can not only begin work in the area but contribute to the broader knowledge base. The working paper then sets out a two-phased methodological approach, which provides a bridge into the presentation and discussion of key findings to inform work in areas related to data, diversity and policy across the sector. The findings aim to inform knowledge and processes related to data and inequality inside ACE and across the sector. They also aim to avoid exacerbating existing issues for those answering survey questions related to their protected characteristics, for National Portfolio Organisation (NPO)1 staff returning data to ACE, and for staff within ACE itself. The appendices can be used for reference and as additional information when reading this working paper and when beginning monitoring work. This working paper presents independent academic research. All discussions remain confidential and are only partially shared as evidence in such a way that no individual person or organisation’s identity would be revealed

Subjective well-being in cultural advocacy: a politics of research between the market and the academy

This paper responds to a trend of contracting out subjective well-being econometrics to demonstrate social return on investment (SROI) for evidence-based policy-making. We discuss an evolving ecology of ‘external’ research taking place ‘between’ the academy and commercial consultancy. We then contextualise this as waves of research methodologies and consultancy for the cultural sector. The new model of ‘external between’ consultancy research for policy is not only placed between the University and the market, but also facilitates discourse between policy sectors, government, the media and the academy. Specifically, it enables seductive but selective arguments for advocacy that claim authority through academic affiliation, yet are not evaluated for robustness. To critically engage with an emergent form of what Stone calls ‘causal stories’, we replicate a publicly funded externally commissioned SROI model that argues for the value of cultural activities to well-being. We find that the author’s operationalisation of participation and well-being are crucial, yet their representation of the relationship problematic, and their estimates questionable. This case study ‘re-performs’ econometric modelling national-level survey data for the cultural sector to reveal practices that create norms of expertise for policy-making that are not rigorous. We conclude that fluid claims to authority allow experimental econometric models and measures to perform across the cultural economy as if ratified. This new model of advocacy research requires closer academic consideration given the changing research funding structures and recent attention to expertise and the contracting out of public services

Research on gas-surface interactions, 1966-1967. Part 1 - Project summary final report, 11 Aug. 1966 - 11 Oct. 1967

High intensity shock tube driven molecular beam for gas-surface interaction

Computer program to assess impact of fatigue and fracture criteria on weight and cost of transport aircraft

A preliminary design analysis tool for rapidly performing trade-off studies involving fatigue, fracture, static strength, weight, and cost is presented. Analysis subprograms were developed for fatigue life, crack growth life, and residual strength; and linked to a structural synthesis module which in turn was integrated into a computer program. The part definition module of a cost and weight analysis program was expanded to be compatible with the upgraded structural synthesis capability. The resultant vehicle design and evaluation program is named VDEP-2. It is an accurate and useful tool for estimating purposes at the preliminary design stage of airframe development. A sample case along with an explanation of program applications and input preparation is presented

Understanding well-being data : improving social and cultural policy, practice and research

This Open Access book addresses the need to think about well-being data: how well-being is understood and the ways evidence is ostensibly used to improve society. Well-being data is pivotal in decisions that affect our life chances, livelihoods and quality of life. It is increasingly valuable to companies with their eyes on profit, organisations looking to make a social impact, and governments focussed on societal problems. ‘Following the data’ is a now-familiar phrase in Covid-19 policy communications. This book follows well-being data back centuries, showing it has long been used to track the health and wealth of society. It questions assumptions that have underpinned over 200 years of social science, statistical and policy work. Understanding Well-being Data is a readable, introductory book with real-life examples. It offers practitioners an accessible view ‘under-the-bonnet’ of data collection, analyses and uses to see how they actually operate and what they enact. Understanding the contexts of data and decision-making are critical for policy, practice and research that aims to do good, or at least avoid harm. While the limitations of well-being data remain unaddressed, its positive contribution for society can never be fully realised. Through its comprehensive survey and critical lens, this book provides tools to promote better understanding of the power and potential of well-being data, and the limits of their application